Quarterly report of the Edinburgh Surgical Hospital, from November 1829 to February 1830 / by James Syme.

  • James Syme
Date:
[1830]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Quarterly report of the Edinburgh Surgical Hospital, from November 1829 to February 1830 / by James Syme. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    is no perceptible difference between the two limbs, except a very slight eversion of the toes. Fracture of the Humerus.—Of this accident there were five cases, viz. one at the neck, three through the shaft, and one just above the condyles. The first occurred in an old woman who was knocked down, owing to her own inattention, by a gentleman riding quietly along the road. She obtained a speedy and per- fect cure, without the slightest displacement, in somewhat less than three weeks, by means of a spica bandage, a cushion in the axilla, and a sling. The second case happened to a re- spectable tradesman, who fell from the height of twenty feet. He was treated out of bed with pasteboard splints, and in three weeks obtained a perfect cure. The third case was that of an old woman, owing to a fall in the street. It was treated in the same manner with equal success. The fourth case happened to a girl from falling on the ice, and was treated like the others. The fifth case occurred also in a litle girl who was hurt by a log of wood. The fore-arm seemed to be shortened, and the olecranon was unusually prominent, so that at first sight the accident seemed to be dislocation backwards. A very slight extension, however, sufficed to ascertain the truth by removing the deformity so long as it was continued, and permitting it to return so soon as it was relaxed. A bandage with proper com- presses retained the bones in situ, and the patient was dismis- sed cured in the course of the third week. Fracture of the Clavicle.—There were three cases of this fracture, which recovered readily under the method of treatment described in my first report. Fracture of the Tibia. —Of this usually reputed rare acci- dent there were no fewer than five cases. Of these four hap- pened from false steps, and sudden twists of the leg. The bone gave way about the lower third. There was little displacement, and little difficulty in the treatment, which consisted in ap- plying pasteboard splints, and maintaining the limb in a bent position, which was laid on its outer side. The fifth case was caused by direct violence sustained from falling down a stair which gave way in a Leith brewery. The fracture was situat- ed just below the tuberosity of the tibia, and hence it was ne- cessary to place the limb in an extended position, to prevent tbe displacing effect of the extensors of the knee-joint, which is so troublesome in this particular case, when the knee is bent] Fracture of the Fibula.—Of this fracture there were three cases, two in males, and one in a female. The treatment in all of them was the ingenious, simple, and effectual plan of Du- puytren, viz. the application of a long narrow wooden splint on the inner side of the leg, extending beyond the ankle and knee.